The Story⚡
In the riverine Itsekiri communities of Warri, Roli’s story begins with a swim. That single act leads her from the Delta to Lagos, where she faces adversities. Onobiren: A Woman’s Story arrives in cinemas across Nigeria and Ghana on March 6, 2026.
Tell Me More
Onobiren: A Woman’s Story centers on Roli, played by Ruby Akubueze, a young woman from the Itsekiri riverine communities in Warri, Delta State. In this environment, fishing forms both livelihood and inheritance, with long-standing customs that restrict women to shallower waters. Roli’s journey takes her from these familiar riverbanks to Lagos, where she confronts expectations, setbacks, and the practical demands of building a different life.
The narrative draws directly from Itsekiri cultural details, language, rhythms, and communal practices, while examining resilience, migration, and the ways individuals and groups support one another.
The cast includes Bisola Aiyeola, Patience Ozokwor, Deyemi Okanlawon, Norbert Young, Desmond Bryce, Tan P, and Chude Jideonwo, alongside Ruby Akubueze. Laju Iren wrote the script and serves as executive producer through Laju Iren Films. Famous Odion Iraoya directs the project, which was filmed on location in Warri and Lagos and is being distributed by FilmOne Entertainment.
Laju Iren, a pastor, bestselling author, and founder of Laju Iren Films, trained in mass communication and worked as a journalist before turning fully to inspirational storytelling. Her earlier productions, such as Loving Amanda (2022) and Last to Marry (2025), reached audiences mainly through online channels. Onobiren: A Woman’s Story is her first feature created for theatrical release and represents the largest production scale for her company to date.
She has described the film as one that is personally significant, noting the value of narratives that present African experiences with authenticity.
March is shaping up to be a competitive month at the Nigerian box office. With other major titles releasing around the same period, including Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde’s Mother’s Love, which opens on the exact same day, the key question is how well Laju Iren’s first cinematic film will perform in its opening weekend and whether it can hold its own against more commercially established releases.
In Summary
Onobiren: A Woman’s Story releases in cinemas in Nigeria and Ghana on March 6, 2026.
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